ar gecko

Are there alternatives to the Audi trailer hitch? Will this one work?
TIA
Scott<ul><li><a href="http://www.hitch-web.com/vghitch.asp?DRID=4&amp;MD=allroad&amp;C=&amp;MK=Au di&amp;Y=2001&amp;MDID=1271&amp;YID=83&amp;CID=3&a mp;MKID=6&amp;OID=8&amp;SMID=59&amp;BBID=209&amp;B PID=6&amp;VID=24446">http://www.hitch-web.com/vghitch.asp?

InternetBrands

Sounds like this one fit, although the capacity is much less than the Audi hitch.

ar gecko

Not much - 1,000 - 1,500 lbs. max

itacud

You don't have to drill holes in your car, you don't have to run any wiring, and you don't lose any ground clearance. It's a very nice hitch... though very costly.

If cost is a significant object, then any aftermarket (Class I) hitch designed for A6s will probably work. It appears the one you've found specifically lists the allroad, so I assume you'd be ok with it.

allroad'Ed now

This one looks attractive because it is a 1 1/4" receiver so it will accommodate any standard ball mount or accessory (bike mounts etc) that work with 1 1/4.

S6_Envy

was pretty straightforward, the hardest part was getting the bumper off. I know that allroads and Avants must be slightly different because the allroad hitch from Audi supposedly won't fit an Avant.

Like their website says the receiver is visable, the rest of the hitch is hidden. To me it looks fine, some folks might find it unattractive.

Jeff

ar gecko

Is the Audi hitch a dealer install only item or can it be owner installed?

itacud

Alas, I am not one of them, so I can't give you specific advice on the matter. I can say that you should set asside a lot of time. =) My dealership took 5 hours to do the install, and some owners have taken longer, but they had to do some wiring on pre-2002 allroads. I've looked through the instructions, and nothing looks particularly difficult... There are just a lot of steps.

One caution against the Audi hitch however, is that it won't accept hitch mounted <i>racks</i> by default - if that's something you need. You would need to have a 90-degree adapter fabricated.

MikeB_NH

I installed the Audi hitch myself. It is indeed time consuming and you need to be not easily scared Large amounts of the rear of the car need to be dismantled and reassembled. Mines an '02 and it took me about 8 hours. My only concern with the installation is the effect it has on the cars ability to withstand rear-end impacts. The hitch bar slides into pockets in the chassis originally occupied by a pair of gas shocks which absorb impact to the rear bumper. With the hitch installed, any rear impact energy is going to be directly transmitted into the rear of the body shell. I doubt the allroad would meet fed regulations were it to be a factory-fit option, but I'm no expert.